Transfer apparatus



April 24. 1962 E. UMBRICHT ET AL 3,030,896

TRANSFER APPARATUS original Filed Dec. 2o, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mir,ffm/.4k H2M ATTORNEYS April 24, 1962 E. LJMlsRlcl-l'r ETAL 3,030,896

TRANSFER APPARATUS original Filed Deo. 2o, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 QA FIG.3. i@

M; llmj- ATTO RN EYS April 24, 1962 E. uMBRlcl-IT ETAL 3,030,896

TRANSFER APPARATUS April 24, 1962 E. UMBRICHT ET AL TRANSFER APPARATUS 4Sheetsheet 4 Original Filed Dec. 20, 1954 INVENTORS EM/L 0MB/1:76177'BYDEWEV EVA/V5 lus; mi #M64 ATTO R N EYS States l grasas Patented Apr.24, 1962 3,030,896 TRANSFE APPARATUS The present invention relates totransfer apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus fortransferring heavy castings and the like such as are found in theautomotive and other closely allied mass-production industries. Thisinvention is described as embodied in a machine for washing under highpressure both the outside and inside of metal parts or assemblies andvarious other articles, and then for draining the washing liquid out ofthe articles and drying them.

In many mass-producing type industrial applications involving thefabrication of complicated machine parts and assemblies, it is necessaryat one or more points in the production schedule to remove the varioussoils or other materials which adhere to both outside and inside thearticles and accumulate as a result of the previous manufacturing steps,for example, such soils as moulding sand and metal particles, combinedwith films of the ,various cutting oils used during machining. The needfor eflicient automatic apparatus to provide the required cleaning hasbecome increasingly important, for, in modern machinery such asautomobiles, the parts are held to closer tolerances and the presence ofonly slight amounts of soil or contaminating material causes damage bycorrosion and scouring after the parts are as- -sembled and run.

For example, in the automobile industry it used to be true that theWashing of the various parts was treated, in effect, as merely anincidental step in the assembly of the automobile. But now there havebeen vast increases in horsepower and engine speed. The castings aremuch more complex. V and Y blocks are commonly used, including manyborings and oil passages, with provision for hydraulic valve liftsystems, etc. With such power, speed and complexity, the tolerances areso close and the finishes are so fine that complete effective washing ofthe parts prior to assembly has become one of the key steps in theproduction line. Incomplete washing of just one portion of any one ofthe multitudes of passages and surfaces in any one of several parts canquickly result in failure on the test line, resulting in expensiveoverhauling ofthe engine.

The type of apparatus described herein as embodying the presentinvention is well adapted for inclusion in automatic power washingmachines for cleaning machined castings, such as automobile engineblocks and similar articles which must be thoroughly washed on theoutside and have internal passages and chambers which must be forcefullyflushed out before final assembly.

In the machine described herein, the engine blocks or similar articlesto be washed are supported one behind another along a path and areintermittently advanced along it. The articles pass in successionthrough a rollover washing stage where high pressure sprays and streamsof washing liquid are directed on them as they are revolved completelyover around a horizontal axis, back and `forth several times. Then thearticles pass through an internal flushing stage where they are turnedupside down and their .various internal passages are directly andforcefully flushed out by mandrels inserted into the articles throughlarger openings. Jet forming orifices in the inserted mandrels areprecisely aligned with the small passages to be washed, and very highpressure jets of cleaning solution from these orifices then flush outthe passages. Advantageously, intermittent high pressure air blastsmixed with the washing solution en-v hance the surge effects of theflushing streams. In later stages the articles are drained out and blowndry.

Among the many advantages of the embodiment presently to be described isthat when it is incorporated in the automatic power washer, it helps toinsure that the complete washing operation is enabled to be carried outas a precision, high speed, high efficiency step in a production line. n

A further advantage of the transfer mechanism as described herebelow isits ability to accommodate the roll-over stage of the power washer andthus enable the complete exterior washing of four articles arrangedend-to-end in a space not much longer than the four articles themselves.

It is an advantage of this transfer apparatus that it permits at theinternal flushing and draining stages the articles to be lifted up fromtheir path through the machine and to be swung up and over to an upsideldown position for most effective flushing and draining.

The present application is a division of application Serial No. 476,138,filed on December 20, 1954 and now issued as Patent No. 2,918,071. j

The various aspects, features, and advantages of the present inventionwill be more fully understood from the following description consideredin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a top view of an engine block washing machine which embodieswithin it the invention, the blocks enter the machine at the left end atstation No. 1 and leave the machine at station No. 20 at the right end;

FIGURE 2 is a side View of the machine of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a partial top view, on enlarged scale, taken along the line3-3 in FIGURE 2, looking down, and showing the flop-over block washingfixtures and mandrel mechanism for washing interior portions of theblock;

FIGURE 4 is a partial cross sectional view of the machine, on enlargedscale, taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, looking to the right andshowing a cross section of the roll-over carriage and associatedmechanisms;

FIGURE 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the machine, on thesame enlarged scale as FIGURE 4, taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE llooking toward the interior of the machine, showing a side elevation ofthe roll-over carriage and associated washing, block transfer-ring, andcarriage drive mechanisms;

FIGURE 6 is a partial perspective view, on enlarged scale, of a portionof the block transferring mechanism, seen also at the extreme left inFIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a partial perspective View, on enlarged scale, of anotherportion of the block transferring mechanism, seen also near the bottomcenter in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a partial cross sectional View, on enlarged scale, takengenerally along the line 8-8 in FIG- URE 3 looking to the right, showingthe flop-over fixture and associated block transferring and mandrelmechanisms.

General Description of the Transfer Apparatus and the Power Washer inWhich the Preferred Embodiment Is Incorporated Referring generally tothe whole machine as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the engine blocks 22,indicated in diagrammatic forms as dotted rectangles, enter the machineat the left at station No. 1. 'I'hese blocks, for example, may be comingfrom a production line in which they have received all of the requiredmachining operations and are being sent through the machine to wash offand thoroughly clean from them the accumulated soils, metal filings,sand,

etc., which have accumulated during the previous production steps. Theblocks 22 are being washed in preparation for the assembly of the enginewhich begins along an assembly line stretching away from the right endof the machine. `In going through the machine, the blocks 22 pass insequence through twenty separate stations, indicated as l through 20, inFIGURE l. These stations are uniformly spaced along the length of themachine. Each station may be considered as being equal in length to thelength of one of the engine blocks being washed. A small space existsbetween the adjacent ends of the blocks in successive stations.

In order to move each of the blocks in the machine simultaneously to thenext succeding station, a transfer mechanism (the preferred embodimentof this invention) described in detail below, and actuated by ahydraulic cylinder 24 shown at the lower right in FIGURE 2, is used. Theblocks 22 pause at each station for a brief period of time during whichthey are washed externally or internal- 1y, drained, or blown dry, asthe case may be, and then are transferred on to the next station, and soforth on through the machine, finally leaving the machine at station 2Oclean and dry, in readiness for assembly.

Stations l and 2 are outside of the first housing 25 of the machine. Asseen in FIGURE 4, the blocks 22 have a generally V or Y conguration,indicated in phantom lines, and in stations 1 and 2 the blocks arereceived on supporting tracks 26 in FIGURE 5, which engage outer edgesof the bottom of the block or so-called pan rail. These tracks or rails26 are secured to longitudinally extending brackets 28 formed by angleirons welded along the length of a pair of parallel hollow longitudinalframe members 3f) formed of channel irons 31 welded together ange toange (similar to horizontal frame manifold 126 shown in FIGURE 4).

In order to guide the blocks along the tracks 26, a pair of spaced guiderails 32 are secured along the length of the inner faces of another pairof angle iron brackets 34 supported from the main longitudinal framemembers 30 by means of legs 35 secured to the outside of the main framemembers. The guide rails 32 engage the blocks 22 on opposite sides attheir widest points.

Stations 3 through 7 are inside of the housing 25 and comprises theroll-over washing stage, generally indicated at 36, for washing theoutside of the blocks 22. Considerable internal washing also occurs, ofcourse, but the high speed washing jets of fluid are directed mainly atthe outside of the machine in this stage 36. Station 3 isl just insideof the machine housing 25 and, in effect, acts as a vestibule in whicheach block sits before it moves into stations 4, 5, 6, and 7 whichinclude a unitary roll-over block washing carriage, generally indicatedat 4G. A small entrance doorway is provided in the left end of thehousing 25 between stations 2 and 3 which is just large enough to pass ablock.

The roll-over carriage 40 is advantageously adapted to carry four blockssimultaneously in spaced end-to-end relationship and to slowly rollthese blocks once over and back around their longitudinal axes whilethey are externally washed as generaly indicated in FIGURE 4. The blocksare slowly rolled over through almost a full 360 and then rolled backagain, and then the transfer apparatus moves them ahead one station,with a washed block being discharged from the right of the carriagewhile another block cornes into the left. The operation of the roll-overcarriage and its interrelationship with the transfer mechanism isdescribed in greater detail below.

In the stations 8 and 9 the blocks are passed through a connectingtunnel in a tunnel housing 46 (seen best in FIGURE l) between theroll-over washing stage and an internal flushing stage 38 which includesstations l0 through 13. In stations l1 and 13 the blocks are picked upoff the main tracks 26 through the machine and are swung up and overthrough an arc, as indicated in FIG- URE 8, and are held for a periodupside down while being internally washed and drained before beingreturned to the main track to be moved on by the transfer mechanism.

Following the stage 3S is a drain-off stage 50 including two otherflop-over stations 14 and 15, which are used to drain off the washingsolutions which tend, in modern engine blocks with their complicatedinternal configurations and inter-connecting passages, to be trapped inpuddles internally of the block.

Next is the drying stage, indicated generally at S2, including stations16, 17, 18 and 19 in which the blocks 22 are thoroughly dried by meansof high pressure blasts of hot air. The general arrangement of thevarious ducts, manifolds and nozzles in the drying stage 52 may begenerally similar to that disclosed in our copending application, SerialNo. 462,726, led on October 18, 1954, now Patent No. 2,926,674, and asshown in our copending application, Serial No. 467,746, filed onNovember 9, 1954, now Patent No. 2,979,062.

As will be understood, controls are provided at the receiving anddelivery ends of the machine for automatically gauging the transfermechanism, and therefore the machine, to the speed of operation of theproduction line ahead of it and to assembly line following it so thatthe machine always operates efficiently at full capacity and yet doesnot pile up excess blocks' into the assembly line. The machine asdescribed herein incorporating the present invention is capable ofthoroughly washing and drying in the neighborhood of 140 to 160 blocksper hour, both inside and out, with each block as it passes through themachine receiving a number of precisely controlled positioned washingoperations and positioned drying operations.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention as mentioned above ismounted in a power Washer and includes a transfer bar assembly 60extending the full length of the machine. The bar may be considered toinclude three sections; a loading transfer bar 62, which operates withthe blocks in stations 1 through 3, a main transfer bar 64 whichoperates with the blocks in stations 8 through 20, inclusive, and isconnected to bar 62 so as to move integrally with it by means of anoffset connecting bar 66 (see also FIGURE 5). The third part of thetransfer bar mechanism is the carriage transfer bar 68 which operateswith 'the blocks in stations 4, 5, 6, and 7 in the carriage and iscarried by and moves with the roll-over carriage 40 when it rollsaround. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 7, the carriage transfer bar 68 isconnected with the main transfer bar only when the carriage is in itsinitial upright position and a clutch dog 70 projecting from theunderside of the carriage transfer bar is engaged in a V-shaped notchbetween a pair of clutch brackets 72 and 74 welded to the top of theoffset connecting bar 66 at its center.

The three transfer bar portions 62, 64, and 68 are of generallyidentical construction, although being of different lengths. Each ofthese includes a pair of spaced longitudinal members extending paralleland closely adjacent each other (see FIGURES 6, 7, and 4). These bars 80are held uniformly spaced by means of blocks welded therebetween, notshown. The hydraulic transfer cylinder 24 reciprocates a piston rod 82connected to a gusset 84 welded between members V80 of the main transferbar 64, so as to drive the transfer bar assembly 60 longitudinally inthe machine a distance slightly greater than the spacing between thefront end of one station and lthe front end of the next succeedingstation.

In order to engage the rear of the pan rail of the blocks 22 and advancethem to the right, a plurality of drive dogs 86 are supported on pivots88 intermediate the longitudinal members 80. These pivoted dogs arebalanced so that their forward corners tend to rise up and engage therear of the block, as shown in FIGURE 5, thus sliding all of the blocksto the right as the transfer mechanism 60` moves to the right. As thetransfer bar is returned to its initial position, the projecting cornersof the drive dogs strike the underside of the respective followingblocks, turning the dogs a small distance clockwise as seen in FIGURE 5so that the dogs can slide back under following blocks and then rise upand engage the rear faces of the following blocks in preparation for thenext transfer. A plurality of stops 90 extending transversely betweenthe members 80 and engaging the rear ends 0f the dogs prevent them fromturning out of driving relationship with the rear faces of the blocksduring the transfer operation.

The members 80 are supported between a pair of tracks 92a and formed byspaced parallel channels having their flanges aligned and faced towardseach other. Flanged tapered wheels 94 project into the open face of thechannels 92a and engage the upper surfaces of the lower flanges of thechannels. As shown in FIGURES 4, 5, and 6, these anged Wheels 94 aresupported by stub shafts 96 projecting into the sleeve portions offlanged sleeves 98 having their flanges welded to the outer faces of themembers 80. Among the many advantages of this arrangement is the easewith which the transfer bar 60, wheels 94 and tracks 92a are assembled,the stub shafts 96 being slid into sleeves '98 as the wheels 94 arefitted into the open ends of the tracks 92. Moreover, the supportingsurfaces of the lower flanges of the tracks 92a are inclined somewhatdownwardly toward each other; by cooperating with the tapered surface ofthe flanged wheels, produce a lateral guiding action as well as asupporting action.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the inter-connecting bar 66 is secured to theloading transfer bar 62 by means of a gusset 100 secured by blocks 102between the members 80 of the loading transfer bar. A similar connectionis made between the right end of the connecting bar 66 and the maintransfer bar 64 in the vicinity of station 9, as shown in FIGURE 2. Thereason the right gusset 1&4 is spaced back from the front (left) end ofthe main transfer 'bar is to provide clearance for the roll-overcarriage when the front end of the main indexing bar projects into theroll-over carriage to engage its first dog 89 with the block beingtransferred out of station 7 into station 8.

Parts of the carriage 40 performing functions corresponding to those ofparts in stations 1, 2, and 3 have corresponding reference numeralsfollowed by the suix a. The four blocks 22 in the carriage are supportedby tracks 26a fastened to the top of the inner braces 92a and are guidedat each side by lateral guide rails 32a welded along the inside faces ofthe pipes 152 and are confined at the top by another similar guide rail158 along the underside of the top pipe 152 which supports the blocks asthe carriage rolls over so as to prevent tumbling of the blocks in thecarriage.

Among the advantages of this axial roll-over washing action is the factthat the blocks 22 are enabled to be held in closely spaced end-to-endrelationship while they are rolled over. Thus, the spray, in effect, hasa concentrated target, resulting in a highly eicient washing operation,for only a very small percentage of the washing solution can passthrough the small spaces between the four blocks. 'Ihe rolling motion ofthe blocks is very effective in loosening the soil material and dumpingit out of the blocks. Moreover, the reversal in rolling direction helpsin dumping out the dirt.

When the carriage returns to its initial position, the clutch dog 70engages between the clutch brackets '72 and 74 so that the carriagetransfer bar is locked to the remainder of the transfer bar mechanism toform effectively a unitary transfer mechanism 60 extending the fulllength of the machine for transferring all of the blocks, includingthose in the carriage, one station to the right. The block in station 7is pushed ont the rear of the carriage 40 and another block comes in thefront end of the carriage. In order for the carriage transfer bar 68 toengage the block coming into the front end of the carriage,

an additional block drive dog 87 is used near its front end. As theblock is coming into the carriage, the dog 87 catches the inside of thefront end of the block pan rail, as shown in FIGURE 5, so as to pullthis block the rest of the way into the carriage.

As seen in FIGURE 2, a similar block drive dog 89 is included near thefront end of the main transfer bar 64 to catch the front end of theblock being pushed out of the carriage 4u so as to pull it the rest ofthe way into station 8.

Parts of the machine in the flop-over internal washing and drainingstages 38 and 50 performing functions corresponding to those of otherparts earlier in the machine have the same reference numerals followedby the suiix b. FIGURES 3 and 8 illustrate how the transfer mechanism ispositioned in relation to the rest of the power washer in these stages38 and S0.

In the drying stage, including stations 16 through 19, the blocks areblown dry as described above. The number of stations used to dry theblock is determined by its configuration. Four stations are shown, butin many instances fewer stations may be used. In certain instances thedrying stage may be omitted altogether, because the washing solutioncontains powerful corrosion inhibiting agents so that the amount ofwetness remaining after the draining stage can dry by naturalevaporation, but usually at least one station for blowing the blocks drywould be used.

Sequence of Operation Although many aspects of the sequence of operation:of the machine will be clear from the foregoing description, a summaryof the operation is set forth here for convenient reference and toclarify the function of the transfer mechanism in the machine. i

Upon starting an operating cycle the working parts are positioned asfollows:

(l) The transfer mechanism `60 is in initial position (i.e. transfercylinder rod 82 is extended). The internal washing mechanism is ininitial position. The roll-over carriage 4o is in initial position andso are the flop-over fixtures.

(2) If blocks are in the loading station and the unloading station isempty, then the transfer mechanism 60 advances all of the Iblocks to thenext stations.

(3) The transfer mechanism 60 then returns to initial position anddwells there while the following occurs:

(4) The roll-over carriage 40 slowly rolls over and back to initialposition.

(5) At the same time, the flop-over fixtures pick up blocks and invertthem, dwelling in the inverted position.

(6) The internal washing mechanism advances into the block and dwellsthere for a period while the flushing occurs land an air blast is turnedon and off, and then-it returns to initial position.

(7) The nop-over fixtures swing back to initial position.

(8) The cycle repeats if the loading station has again been `lled andunloading station is empty.

These cycles of operations are advantageously pnoduced by combinedelectric and hydraulic control systems of the type well known in theart; for example, being generally like the circuits disclosed in ourcopending application Serial No. 467,746, filed November 9, 1954. Insuch systems electric switches are used as the sensing elements to sensethe positions of the block in the loading and unloading stations andare' used to sense the positions of the transfer piston rod 82, theinternal washing mechanism and the positions of the shafts of therollover and flop-over mechanism. These electrical switches actuatesolenoid-operated hydraulic control valves in a hydraulic controlsystem. 'Ihese solenoid valves then direct the flow of the hydraulicfluid in the control system so as to move pi-stons which, in turn,develop sufficient force to open and close the main valves for operatingl the piston rods and various other mechanisms, as will be understood.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the transferapparatus of the present invention is well adapted to provide the manyadvantages discussed above, and that this can be adapted to a Widevariety of industrial operations including washing and cleansing andthat various changes or modifications may be made therein, each as maybe best suited to a particular application, and that the scope of thepresent invention as defined by the following claims, is intended toinclude such modifications or adaptations limited only by the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. In power washing apparatus of the type for washing manufacturedarticles, means for moving and guiding the articles through theapparatus comprising a pair of spaced parallel channels extendingthrough the apparatus, said channels each having upper and lower flangesand being positioned with their respective flanges directed inwardlytowards each other, a pair of spaced parallel rails for supporting andguiding the articles, said rails being carried on the respective upperfianges of said channels, a reciprocating drive mechanism, a pair ofclosely adjacent parallel bars extending longitudinally between saidchannel, means interconnecting said bars and connecting said bars tosaid reciprocating drive mechanism, a plurality of pivots extendingtransversely between said bars and spaced uniformly therealong, aplurality of drive dogs each swingably mounted on a respective one ofsaid pivots and each being effectively weighted more heavily about itspivot at a predetermined end, a plurality of stops extendingtransversely between said bars and each adjacent to a respective one ofsaid pivots for normally supporting the weighted end of the adjacentdrive dog with the opposite end of the dog projecting from between saidbars for engaging and moving an article which is on said rails, aplurality of pairs of sleeves projecting laterally outwardly in oppositedirections from respective ones of said bars toward the respectivechannels, and a plurality of pairs of flanged wheels engaging in saidchannels and having stub shafts rotatably fitting into respective onesof said sleeves.

2. In power washing apparatus of the type for washing manufacturedarticles, a transferring mechanism for transferring the articles throughthe apparatus comprising first, second, and third guide rails extendingend-to-end through said apparatus, aligned first, second, and thirdtransfer bars, respectively, extending parallel with said `guide rails,a rigid interconnection bar joining said first and third transfer barsand having its axis offset from the line of said transfer bars andextending parallel with said second transfer bar, reciprocating drivemechanism coupled to one of said bars for reciprocating said first,second and third transfer bars longitudinally parallel with said first,second, and third guide rails, a plurality of drive dogs carried by saidfirst, second, and third transfer bars for engaging and driving articlesalong said respective rails, a releasable coupling between said secondtransfer bar and said interconnection bar, and second drive mechanismcoupled to said second guide rail and to said second transfer bar formoving said second guide rail and second transfer bar simultaneouslylaterally from alignment with the remainder of the transfer mechanism,thereby disengaging said releasable coupling, whereby articles on saidsecond guide rail can he shifted laterally without disengagement fromthe drive dogs of the second transfer bar.

3. In power washing apparatus of the type for washing manufacturedarticles, a transferring mechanism for transferring the articlesstep-by-step through the apparatus for effectuating the washingoperation comprising first, second, and third pairs of guide railsextending through said apparatus and defining first, second, and thirdtracks for guiding and supporting the articles, first, second, and thirdrigid transfer members, said transfer members extending parallelrespectively with said first, second, and third tracks, first cyclicdrive mechanism connected to said first and third transfer members formoving said transfer members back and forth near said first and thirdtracks, said first, second, and third transfer members including driveelements for engaging and moving articles on said rst, second, and thirdtracks, respectively, a releasable coupling for releasably connectingsaid second transfer member with said first drive mechanism, seconddrive mechanism, and movable support means carrying said second trackand said second transfer member and being driven by said second drivemechanism to move said second track and said second transfer member awayfrom said first and third tracks for disengaging said releasablecoupling and moving an article in said second track into an alternativeposition in said washing apparatus while the article remains alignedwith the drive elements of the second transfer member.

4. In an automatic power washer for heavy automotive castings andsimilar manufactured articles used in mass production industries whereinvarious washing operations occur at equidistantly placed processingstations, a transferring mechanism for transferring the articlesstationby-station through the washer comprising first, second, and thirdtrack means extending through the Washer to support said articles, afirst longitudinally reciprocating transfer bar extending through thewasher parallel to said first and third track means, a second transferbar extending parallel with said second track means, guide means forlongitudinally guiding said transfer bars, reciprocating drive mechanismconnected to the first transfer bar and releasably coupled to saidsecond transfer bar, a plurality of drive dogs pivotally mountedequidistantly along said transfer bars for engaging said articles on theforward stroke for moving each article from one station to the nextsuccessive one, each dog being effectively weighted more heavily at apredetermined end, a plurality yof stops mounted on said transfer barsadjacent to each of said drive dogs for maintaining the drive dogs inthe proper driving attitude by limiting the extent of rotation, seconddrive mechanism, and movable support means carrying said second trackmeans and said second transfer bar and being driven by said second drivemechanism to move said second track means and said second transfer baraway from said first and third track means for disengaging said secondtransfer bar and moving an article on said second track means into analternative position while the article remains aligned with the drivedogs of said second transfer bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSRe.24,072 Davis Oct. 1l, 1955 1,628,909 Preble May 11, 1927 1,900,914Cornet Mar. 14, 1933 2,642,006 Merritt et al. June 16, 1953

